Message in a bottle washes up on Australian beach after 16 years at sea

There was no genie inside, but a bottle washed up on the shores of Peterborough in Victoria has been dubbed just as magical — after it made its way from Brazil over 16 years ago.

A local, by the name of Tony, made the discovery while on a walk with the bottle containing a letter inside.

“Your curiosity has paid off,” the letter read.

“Thank you for recovering this bottle and taking the time to see what was inside.

“I have placed bottles like this one in several oceans at many different locations all over the world in the hope that people like you might find this bottle and return the note to me in the United States.”

The note goes on to explain that the bottle was dropped in the Atlantic Ocean in early November 2008.

“I would appreciate you sending me this note so I can find out how far the bottle traveled and for how long,” the note continued.

“To make it worth your while to participate in my experiment, I will send you $20 (US) upon receipt of this note. Please make sure to include your name and address.”

And while the note may sound like a possible scam, the sender — a man by the name of Joe Johnson — says the bottle was one he likely threw from one of the “many cruises” he’s enjoyed around the world.

Speaking to ABC Melbourne, Johnson told breakfast radio host Sammy J that the bottle was launched between Rio and Salvadore in Brazil.

“I’ve been to Australia and I probably threw a few bottles in the water there, but this one is from Brazil,” he said from the small town of Towson in Maryland.

“My wife and I took an awful lot of cruises, but I don’t remember that specific bottle. Every cruise we took … I probably threw a bottle or two in the water. It’s fun, especially if it came from Brazil to Australia.”

Johnson claims that aside from the call he received from Sammy J’s breakfast radio show, he had only been contacted once by another person who had found a bottle — admitting he had perhaps dropped 100 in the water.

An image of the barnacle-covered bottle and note was posted to a local Facebook group, The Peterborough Press, with commenters shocked at how a single bottle had ventured from Brazil to Australia over the course of 16 years.

“How fantastic – I love that!” one wrote.

“I hope his (sic) still alive to know it’s been found on the Beach at Peterborough, Victoria. it’s been on a long trip,” another added.

“That’s a really fascinating find! To think it has survived 16 years in the ocean,” another added.

“If only that bottle could talk, what an adventure.”